A little more light on the subject and the Lehigh Valley is reputedly now the third largest market in Pennsylvania. As a student in the 70's we joked and exclaimed that Oakland, the university district of Pittsburgh was the 3rd busiest traffic center in the state. We had the city's third public FM station in that section of town.

WDIY would be the third station in our market if we had the number of public FM's the number 1 and 2 markets in PA have. Instead we are the one and only NPR, full service public FM in the market - and thus a strong indicator that the Lehigh Valley is master of its own identity, instead of just some bedroom community of the urban sprawl to the south and east.

We pride ourselves in bringing you a healthy dose of local in our programming. WDIY programming clearly sets the tone of local and presents what is good about our community, what is diverse about it. NPR helps connect us to the rest of the world on our terms, like when the story hits home enough to make us stay and listen, well after we've reached our destination.

You now hear three great formats in equal measure during WDIY's daytime. Three hours of WDIY Classics from 9:00 to 12 noon weekdays. Three hours of eclectic music from folk, blues, jazz, world and rock on The Blend from 1:00 to 4:00pm.

Now WDIY also launches, along with NPR member stations large and small across America, NPR's newest magazine of news and culture - Day To Day - hosted by Alex Chadwick, from 12 noon to 1:00PM. This is the first newsmagazine launch from NPR in a generation. You have it on WDIY - where you have the best that public radio offers anywhere - great classics, great eclecticism, and the best news on radio, perhaps on any medium, from NPR.

Read on, and listen for new sounds. We hope they make your day.

Along with other key public radio stations throughout the nation, WDIY has launched a new NPR weekday radio newsmagazine at 12 Noon weekdays. Day to Day is a one-hour program conceived by the by the creators of the leading NPR's morning and afternoon radio newsmagazines Morning Edition and All Things Considered to serve listeners in the middle of the day. The program is based at NPR's new west coast facility in Los Angeles and is hosted by principal NPR correspondent, Alex Chadwick.

"Day to Day will give listeners NPR substance with an twist: smart, funny, thoughtful, quirky material - a great break and refresher in the middle of a busy day," said Alex Chadwick. "Listeners will hear updates on key news, original stories, and provocative ideas about the attitudes and trends that shape our world. There will be familiar voices from and array of NPR news correspondents and commentators as well as contributions from content partner Slate Magazine, station-based reporters, independents, and fresh new voices.

Host Alex Chadwick has spent more than two decades in a variety of roles at NPR, both on and off the air. He was most recently host and chief writer for the award-winning series "Radio Expeditions," about the natural world and its different cultures, co-produced with the National Geographic Society. Chadwick came to NPR in 1977 as host and producer of NPR's morning news service and has hosted and prepared reports for public radio's most listened to newsmagazines, Morning Edition, and All Things Considered as well as Weekend Edition.

WDIY and the other launch stations will work with NPR to provide listener comment and feedback that will shape and inform the program over the summer months. Please let us know what you think of Day To Day and our new weekday line-up by responding at wdiy.org.

1. "Welcome..." Fountains of Wayne (S-curve)

2. "Grand," Erin McKeown (Nettwerk)

3. "Feast Of Wire," Calexico (Quarterstick)

4. "Robinella And The CC String Band," Robinella (Columbia)

5. "Diamonds On The Inside," Ben Harper (Virgin)

Fountains Of Wayne have reached No. 1 this week in WDIY's contemporary music poll with their newest CD, "Welcome Interstate Managers" on Virgin records. The band mixes many pop influences together to make a pleasing pop/rock concoction. The mix includes pop, punk and sixties era sounds all rolled together in a modern edged recording. Standouts include "Stacey's Mom" and the dreamy "Hackensack."

Erin McKeown drops to the No. 2 position after a long stay at the top position with "Grand" on Nettwerk records. Erin makes the most of her little girl voice with her latest CD featuring charming tunes like the coy "How To Be A Lady." On several songs including the slightly funky "James!" Erin tosses in some horns, keyboards and samples to keep the texture interesting.

Calexico moves to position No. 3 with their latest CD "Feast Of Wire" on indie label Quarterstick. They are the same musicians who backed Neko Case on her last solo outing "Blacklisted." Calexico combines rootsy country sounds with a touch of surf guitar to make an atmospheric brew. Their complex arrangements and active percussion make songs like "Quattro" an intriguing listening experience. "Close Behind" is a beautiful, country style instrumental with sophisticated horn and keyboard parts that moves along energetically propelled by a complex drum rhythm. Catchy and ground breaking at the same time, Calexico is a real delight.

Robinella and the CC String Band moves to No. 4 this week after a stay at number one. Their self titled CD features the clear country vocals of Robinella Contreras and a string band capable of swingin' and honky tonkin'. Standouts include the jazzy "Honey, Honey Bee" and the sad and wistful "Man Over." The entire recording has a pleasing unpolished sound, quite the opposite of the current approach in places like Nashville. This is the kind of music you should be hearing on country radio.

Ben Harper moves to position No. 5 wth his latest effort, "Diamonds on the Inside" on Virgin records. Ben skillfuly mixes pop, funk and reggae together. You will also hear a good dose of soulful funk on this diverse CD.